Cotton picker or harvester.



M PRIGR.

COTTON PIGKBR on. HARVESTER. APPLIGATION FILED JABLZI. 1901 Patented Sept. F2, 1912;

4 SHEETB-SHEET 1.

v M. PRIOR. COTTON PIGKER 0R. HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. 1901.

Patented Sept. 17, 1912 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ewe/762??? M. PRIOR.

COTTON PIGKER OR HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1901.

956 Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

AIHHHHHHHHHHH M. PRIOR. comm PIGKER OR. mnvsswnm I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. 1901. 1,938,956; Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

Q 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' vation of the entire inachine, the chi.

nnrrnn sarafrns or MATTHEW PRIDE, (ll? "WA'LERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.

QU'JYTDN PICKZJR Olli- HABVESTER.

Application filed January .81, 1961. Serial No. 14,016.

To all whom it may camera:

130 it known that I, MATTHEW Pinon, a citizen of the United States, residing at li'atcrtown. county of Middlesex, State of hlassachusetts, have invented an Improve meat in Cotton Pickers or Harvesters, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. like letters on the drawings representing like pa Various devices have been proposed for facilitating the picking of cotton, and a few machine harvesters have been proposed, but so far as I am aware these machines have been defective in material respects, some of them injuring the plant or hush, and others picking leaves, green bolls and everything, as wel as the ripe cotton, and being extremely expensive torun and keep in order, etc. My invention aims to pick the cotton-that. is ripe only, and provides means for preventing tlac picking of the leaves and unripe cotton; the machine also including provision for gathering the cotton from a portion of the hush before the rest of the bush is at tacked, thereby preventing any undue pressure on the bush which might tend to injure it or dislodge it from its proper position in the ground; means for automatically disposing of the cotton when picked, etc.

in carrying out my invention l have pro vidcd a plurality of substantially similar picking arms. each comprising preferably an endless picking belt so constructed as to 'rah'ai'id retain the opened fiber and pull the same from the boll if properly open: said arms being arranged one above the other to the height of the highest bush which it is intended to piclgand set at diftcrcnt angles so as to approach the hush dis-v simultaneously, andbcing preferably capa-. bio of yielding as may be required in case of meeting with a bush of with any other obstruction together With conveying chutes and belts, and the requisite operating nicchanism for keeping the parts in operation r The constructional details of my invention will be fully pointed out in the course of the following description, reference being; had to the accompanying drawings in which 1' have illustrated the preferred eniliiodiment of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side ole-- unusual shape, or.

Specification of Letters Patent.

17W referably in too l atenter't Sept. 1?, 1912.

the near side being omitted, for clearnessf Fig. 2 a rear end View a front end view details of one of the picking arms; Fig. 4 showing the same in top plan View, the housing being; omitted; Fig. 5 showing the same in side elevation; Fig. 6 being a longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line 6-8, ,Fig. l; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view on the line 77, Fig. 5.

The bed frame a of the machine, traction wheels 6, b, and general construction of the machine may be of any kind desired, as the main feature of my invention resides more in the picking arms and conveying mechanism than it does in these other minor details.

As herein shown the machine is supported on four wheels, the front Wheels b be inp; shown as journaled at a" in a box-like end a of a trussed arch a extending over the machine, see Fig. 3, in position to straddle a row of cotton bushes permitting the lattcr to be engaged by the picking; arms which are at the rear part of the machine. in line with the arch, as will presently he more clearly explained.

The arch a. is at the forward end of the machine, and extends upwardly from the i'r'amc end a and carries an upper frame a, and uprights a, the latter being connected together by cross pieces a at'the top. The pieces a are supported at the rear by rear uprights 4 mounted on arear part (L8 of the frame.

The-rear wheels 6 are shown as constructed on the caster principle. being journaled in brackets a, a

1 will now describe the more important: part of my. invention which relates more particularly to the picking arms. The inachine is provided with opposite sets of these picking arms, herein shown as consisting of thereof; Fig. 3 is SIX each, although I do not limit myself to any given number, and in general it will he pointed out herein. These arms are all mounted on a rotatable shaft 0, and each arm has a oody part or casting 0" provided at; its outer end with a roller 0 over which an endless belt 0 passes, being driven by a sprocket 0, whose pins 0 engage holes 0 in the belt. The hell passes at its inner end over arollcr c" '31 iaccnt a doflcr'c", travelsame direction as ti e tea 1 thereof; Figs. at to 7 are belt. The picking surface of the belt is composed preferably of a multitude of small points such as are commonly found in card clothing, and the dofier is of the same genoral type excepting that the wires or bristlelilie part thereof are longer and more lies ib e.

For some purposes the wires may be left with their unrestricted flexibility but usually it is preferable to fill in or embed the wires in an elastic composition, such as rubber mixed with wood pulp, so as to malice-termcio'us strong body, and yet permit the same to have suiiicicnt elasticity for passing around the ends of the picker arms. By having the wires embedded so as to expose merely a very small portion of their lengths at their outer ends the cotton is caught and carried along as tenaciously as if the wires were free, and is much more easily defied upon arrival at the inner end, the picking and carrying practically protected from the weather, much less liable to get injured and wear out The belt picking surface may be of any width desired, and is provided at suitable intervals with slightly raised guards 6", there being herein shown two portions of picking surface arranged between three guards, the out-er two guards being herein shown as attached to the edges of the-casting 0, and the inner guard as secured at its ends at c 0, and suspended over the middle of the belt, the wires or bristles bein omitted in the path occupied by said centre guard, and the several guards retaining the belt in an unvarying path of movement. As herein shown the driving holes of the belt are beneath the central guard 0 I consider this feature of my invention of the utmost importance, inasmuch as it insures that the leaves, twigs, etc., which strike the picker arm will simply slide harmlessly over the guards and oil from the picker arms, whereas the fine fibers of the cotton proper will be caught by the prick-like ends of the belt 0 and held tcnaciously, it being observed, by viewing Fig. 6, that these ends all projectforward in the direction of the travel of the belt, or over toward the'left, Fig. 6 when on the upper portion of the belt, this being preferable in order to hold the cotton more 'tenaciously than otherwise, and also to permit the same to be readily dolled when it arrives at the inner end of the arm.

The doi'fer is driven over toward the right, Fig. 6 by a sprocket chain a from a sprocket wheel 0, on the .shaft of the sprocket, c", passing over a sprocket c on the doiier shaft.

The inner end of the picker arm is inclosed on its upper side by a housing 0 and on its lower side by a peculiar casting 0 securcd on the underside of the picker-arm, and having a d scharge mouth 72 at its belt is made long lived, 1s

a chain 0, the successive chains aosaose lower end below the doiler for discharging the picked cotton into a main chute d into which the cotton falls from the respective picker-arms. At its lower end the chute (Z has an endless bel carrier d. journaled at d in the bottom of the chute, and passing at its upper end over a drum (i and guide wheels mounted in the top frame of the machine.

Securedto the front side of each'picker herein shown as made v is a separator 0 of sheet metal, secured at 0 to the upper front edge of the casting a, which has a and giving-rlgldity to said 0 for supporting separator, the latter extended downward obliquely and being provided with a beaded edge a, which, not only, renders the device stiff but gives blunt-nessso as to prevent cutting or tearing of the bushes, thesheetmetal of the separator passing thence, at 0 to the lower front edge of the body 0 and preferably extending rearwardly' to the back edge thereof beneath the endless belt to constitute a bottom 2 for the picker arm,

the belt and preventing the same The purpose between the sheltering from accidentally operating. of this separator is to enter branches of the cotton bush and render it,

easy for the'machine to obtain access to all parts of the bushes irrespective of their particular shape and kind.

The va ious arms are arranged one above the other on the shaft 0, which is provided with separate driving gears 0 secured to the shaft by screw bolts 0 and also prefer ably splined in position, said gears meshing with gears 0 on the shaft of the sprocket wheels c, the picker arms being su ported by ball bearings of any suitab e kind and free to swing independently of each other on the shaft 0.

Viewing Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the shaft 0 extends downwardly obliquely, and because of this angular position of the shafts and the independent freedom of the picker-arms, the latter tend by gravity to swing downwardly. Each picker-arm is held from swinging to its lowest position by being arranged to hold the respective picker-arms farther and farther away, permitting the opposite pairs of arms toswing merely to a meeting point at the center, the result being that the uppermost arms arefarther away from the bushes than the lowermost arms, viewing Figs. 1 and 2, so that the lower arms meet the bushes first and pick the cotton and afterward the upper arms come in contact with the top of the bushes and perform their work. Because of this construction the arms tend to swing forwardly toward the cottonbushes, being at the same time free to be swung rearwardly by contact with said bushes whenever. the latter ofier anv mo e than usual resistance. This .lncline cooperates with the end drivenby sprocket chains 6 nsnes feelers of my invention is or considerable impedance no it prevents any possibility of undue injury to the bushesa f The separator 0 enters gently Without any possibility of tearing the bushes, and because of its snioofhsnriace it simply sepcrates the twigs and leaves, and its general inclination of the plnnts to give perfect freedom and l e cility of movement and guides the cotton to the picker surface.

The moment that the opened bolls eppreach the endless bolt the protruding cotion is instantly ean ht by the bell: end pulled out of the bolli nnd carried along in the dofier, while the leaves, branches and bolls themselves slide harmlessly ever rt-he guards of the pickernrins.

If. by accident, a boll should pei; broken on and the cotton should cling both in it and to the belt, thereby carrying the boll along the latter would be the cotton by coming into contact with lhe outer end of the housing 6 and would fall by gravity away from the pickernrm leeving the cotton to be carried along inside of the housing and removed by the doii'er.

Not only are the cotton piching ernis usually held by force of gravity toward the center or toward their lowermost position, but the driving mechanism tends to innintain them in that position.

The general operating mechanism of the machine may be of any preferred kind, the power being herein shown as derived from the front tract-ion Wheels, although any other suitable power may be used.

A shaft 6 is mounted above the arch a and sprocket Wheels 5", e, from the front tractlon wheels. The shaft 6 provided with a driving sprocket 6 over which passes a chain e to a central sprocket c on. a. shaft 6 shown as journaled near the rear ofihe machine. The shaft 6 is provided with op posite bevel gears e in mesh with gears c on the upper ends of the shafts c,-and is also provided with a gear 6 in mesh Willi a "gear on the shaft c, provided at its ends ing ihe bell carriers (2 at chains 6 to operate the drums (Z described and preferably also from the latwith bevel gears e in mesh with correspmiding gears a on stop sheilsc, carrying sprocket wheels 6* over which run already ler belts or sprocket chains 0 pass to the opposite guide u-heelsso as to posilively drive the lollcr and thcrebyossist in'driv the opposite sides oi the machine.

The cotton having been picked in the nmnner already fully dcscribcd,'is delivered by the carrier (1' at the opposite sides of the machine and falls into a clinic (i from which it drops into suitable removable receptacles, ordinary cotton begs being shown separated from in Fig. 3 resting over the front of illQ ma. chine.

It will be understood thaliahe apparatus will be drawn by horses, mules or other power.

It will also be understood that the ma chine is provided with a suitable clutch f and operating handle f for throwing the cotton picking mechanism of the machine into and out of action as the driver may require, the loiter being mounted on a suitable eeet ll; will be understood that I do not limit inj seli no the mechanism herein shown men; changes in the form and arrangement of tie various parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:- 1. A cotton picker, freely projecting arm constructed and a r-- ranged to enter freely for Within :1 bush, having a cotton-picking surface composed of a multitude of fine Wires set on end parallel and closely together and having their cotton'gripping ends arranged to project so that, on the side which faces the forward direction of travel of the picker, said ends extend transversely outward from the arm with their free ends pointing in a. direction slightly away from the end oi the arm and toward the opposite end of the arml 2. A cotlon picker, having a long slender arm supported at one end only and at its 0pposits end capable of entering freely Within the bushes, a support for said arm, said arm having a cotton-picking surface composed of a multitude of line wires sianding endwise from said arm, parallel and closely together, said wires, at the liu li-cngrngiiig side of the arm, projecting at their free ends ioivard the supported end of the arm at an acute angle, said arm being yieldingly mounted, rendering it free to swing on its support when abnormally op mscd by a bush. I

3. A cotton picker, having a slender arm for entering at its free end within the bushes, said arm being provided with 21, cotton-picklug surface composed of a multitude of line '1' res set on end parallel and closely together and, at the front side Where the arm ongages the bushes as the cotton picker moves forward, arranged to projccl transversely at their free ends away from file free end of the am at an obtuse angle for presentation lab erelly lo the bush, combined with an endless belt carrier for receiving llie picked colton from the inner end of said arm.

4. A cotton picker. having a slender arm for entrance within a; bush, baring a picking surface extending; thereof. composed of a multitude of closely arranged, fine parallel, heirlike, cotton ill) Ill-

lengthwise of one side 'tecting guards at the opposite sides of said surface extendingvery nearly fiat with the level picking surface and only very slightly beyond the latter for preventing said teeth from catchingbranchessand leaves while yet permitting said teeth to freely and unrestrictedly catch the ripe cot-ton, said arnr being mounted for free movement within the bush. 1

6. A cotton picker, having a slender arm for entrance within a bush, havin a picking surface extendin lengthwise 0 one side thereof, composed o a multitude of closely arranged, tightly packed, fine, hair-like teeth, standing obliquely, with their outer ends projecting on the front side of the arm toward the machine, and longitudinal protecting guards close to the oppositesides of said surface and very nearly level with said surface projecting only slightly beyond the latter forpreventing said teethjrom catchin branches and leaves while' pxermjtting said tightly packed teeth to eat cotton. i i.

-7. A cotton picker, having a slender {arm adapted to enter within a bush, and an' end less belt having a picking surface extending lengthwise of one side of said ar m,'composed fine, hair-like cotton-grabbing points or teeth, said arm having longitudinal protecting guards at the oppo ite sides of saidsurface extending approximately level with said picking surface for preventing, said teeth from catching branches and leaves while permitting said teeth to catch the ripe cotton. 1 r

8. A cotton-picker in the shape of a long thin arm for entering within a bush, an endless belt mounted to move longitudinally of said arm, means for driving said belt in one direction only, said belt being provided lengthwise with a cotton picking surface having a multitude of cotton grabbing points or teeth, and protecting guards, said picking surface being arranged in narrow strips separated by the guards, the latter being separated by narrow spaces for cans ing leaves and twigs to bridge across the same and escape the picking surface between the guards.

of a multitude of closely, arranged,

9. A cotton-picker, having a long thin arm for entering within a bush, said arm normally projecting outwardly in a relatively fixed picking position, but being free to swing when abnormally obstructed, said arm being provided along its front edge with deflecting means for enabling it to separate and readily enter a cotton bush for obtaining access to the cotton, said arm carrying a picking surface movable longitudinally thereof and provided with a multitude of cotton grabbing points or teeth exposed at one side of said deflecting means, protecting guards restricting the exposed portion of said picking surface to a narrow strip over which leaves, etc, may pass without contact with the picking surface, and means for moving said picking surface longitudinally along the arm.

10. A cotton picker, having an arm, an upright shaft for said arm standing out of a vertical 3; position, the arm extending permanentlj from said shaft and carrying a picking surface movable on the front side when approaching the bush longitudinally of the arm in a direction away from the free ends of the arm and provided with a multitude of fine, closely arranged, cottongrabbing points or teeth, protecting guards project-ing'to a very small extent beyond and almogit level with, the latter, and means for movilhg said picking'surface longitudi nally along the arm, said am being mounted free to swing automatically for yielding when abnormally opposed by a bush, and swinging by gravity back to normal working pdsition. Y

11. A cottonp1cker, having a plurality and each normally standing slightly in rear of the next one below, said arms normally projecting in a fixed picking position, but being capable of yielding independently to abnormal obstructions, and each containing cotton picking mechanism consisting of a surface composed of fine, closely arranged cotton grabbing points, and cans for continuously moving. said surttace longitudinally of said arms for picking the cotton and carrying it away from the free end of of picker-arms in a series one above another Leas es ward and toward each other at their free inner ends, each arm being provided with a movable picking surface, and means to move said icking surface for picking and conveying t e cotton from the bush.

14. A cotton'picker having two series of freely swin ing picker-arms arranged oppo site each ot er and converging toward each other at their free inner ends, each arm being provided with a longitudinally movable gilckm surface composed of a multitude of e, cfiise teeth, protecting guards restricting the exposed portion of said icki'n surface to a narrow, level strip, sai guar s being approximately level with the substantially continuous surface of fine cottongrabbing points, being very slightly raised to cause leaves, etc, :to pass without contact with the picking surface, and means for moving said picking surface for picking and v conveying the cotton from the bush,said

. machineghaving an arch-like construction for passing over the bushes, and said series of picker-arms being mounted at the opposite sides of the machine to swing toward each other and approximately together for engaging a bush as the machine is driven. over the same V 15. A cotton-picker having a series of .picker-armseachprovided' with cotton pick ing mechanism, a shaft on which said arms are pivoted, the arms swinging freely down- Ward and forward, and said shaft standing at an oblique angle therefor.

16. A cotton-picker havin a a series of picker arms, each provided wit cotton picking mechanism, a shaft (pivotally supporting said arms, the arms ten ing to swing downward and forward, saidshaft standing at an oblique angle therefor, mechanism for r0- tating said shaft, and means carried by said shaft and operated by the rotation thereof for operating said cotton picking mechanisms.

17. A cottompicker having a series of pickerarms extending out permanently in position for individually engaging a bush,

said arms normally occupym different vertical planes, and sing free to move by gravity toward and from said planes, separate cotton doiiing means for each arm, and a chute to receive the cotton from the dofiers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed iny successively name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATTHEW PRIOR. Witnesses:

Gem H. MAXWELL, Geo. W. GREcoRY. 

